A/N: Premise - takes place in my 5 + 1 verse, so Alex and Yassen unofficially live together as boyfriends.

Alex frowned at the sky outside the window next to him as he pulled the sleeves of his hoodie to cover the backs of his hands and his knuckles. The sleeves didn't extend far enough to warm his chilled fingers.

"I hate January," he said to Yassen. "Too damn cold."

He waited for a moment, and when Yassen didn't reply, rose from his seat on the couch to go to the kitchen in search of warm beverages.

There were dishes still in the sink from the past three days - that day, and the two before it. Alex glanced at them, then the counter - bare but for a lone, stained coffeepot and a couple of grease marks - and sighed, then turned and opened the fridge.

They hadn't been grocery shopping in awhile, so the cool shelves were beginning to empty, as well. A few cans of Coke, something slimy and unidentifiable in the back corner at the bottom, a jar of minced garlic, the last dregs of a bottle of salad dressing. Alex shook his head.

"Do you even know how sad the state of your fridge is," Alex muttered under his breath. "Yassen," he called. "We really have to get groceries tomorrow."

A brief knock at the door; the creak of the unoiled hinges as Ben (the only other person who ever stopped by this apartment, anymore) entered, unconcerned about actually getting a response.

"Alex, you here?" Ben called, toeing his shoes off by the door.

"In the kitchen," Alex replied. "You didn't bring anything edible, by any chance, did you?"

Ben shook his head, coming to lean against the counter between the kitchen and the living room. "Don't suppose you took a shower at any point since I was here yesterday?"

"Nope. Damn, we need to get groceries. Also, damn, it's cold in here."

"Not that cold," Ben disagreed, "but have you considered something hot to drink, blankets, or turning up the heat?"

Alex's eyes widened. "That's what I came in here for!" he said. He turned to the cabinet where they kept the tea bags.

Stilled with his fingers around the handle.

Swallowed.

Turned back to Ben, slowly.

Bit his lip.

Ben waited, awareness heightened since Alex's pause at the handle.

"I… wanted him to bring me a cup," Alex said, soft and strained. "He's… not going to, is he?"

Ben shook his head minutely.

"I know," Alex acknowledged, nodding.

Ben eyed him cautiously. "Do you?"

Alex closed his eyes harshly, firmly blinked a few times. "He's not coming home."

"No."

"I just… wanted to warm up my fingers," Alex said. "Ben, my hands are so cold."

Ben raised an eyebrow. Alex, eyes pleading, breath stifled, sunk down the cupboards to curl up, knees to his chest, arms wrapped around them.

"His hands were always warm, Ben," Alex whispered. "He always held my hands when I was cold. Or he gave me something hot to drink, and my hands would warm up from holding the cup."

Ben swallowed. "Would you like me to make you a cup of tea, Alex?"

Alex bit his lip and shook his head. "I want him to come back," he said. He shook his head. "But he's not going to."

"No. He's not."

Alex sighed and breathed into his arms for a minute. Then he looked up at Ben again.

He shifted, put a hand against the floor, and weakly stood.

"I'm going to go take a shower," he said faintly.

Ben watched him turn and walk slowly towards the apartment's small bathroom, one hand pressing against the wall to support him the whole time.

"Alex," he said quietly, as Alex reached the door.

Alex paused.

"I'll be on the couch, if you need anything."

Alex nodded, and went to cleanse himself.

A/N: Still not huge on my endings, but at least it's something.